Skip to content

Das Verb lassen — The verb lassen

🔙 Back to Grammar

📺 Instructional Video

An instructional video explaining this grammar topic with practical examples.

🎯 Lesson Goals

  • Understand the different constructions with lassen.
  • Use lassen + infinitive, lassen + zu + infinitive, reflexive lassen, and lassen + object + infinitive correctly.
  • Avoid common pitfalls when using lassen.

📚 Core Rule

The verb lassen expresses permission, causation, or a request for something to be done. Its pattern changes depending on the complement: 1. lassen + infinitive – "let / have someone do something". 2. lassen + zu + infinitive – often used with the infinitive plus zu to express allowing a completed action. 3. reflexive lassen – the subject lets itself undergo an action. 4. lassen + object + infinitive – letting an object (person) perform an action.

Construction Use Example (German) Translation
lassen + infinitive Direct causation / permission Ich lasse das Fenster öffnen. I let the window open.
lassen + zu + infinitive Allow a completed action Er lässt das Buch zu Ende lesen. He lets the book be read to the end.
reflexive lassen Subject allows itself an action Sie lässt sich die Haare schneiden. She lets her hair be cut.
lassen + object + infinitive Permit someone (object) to act Der Trainer lässt die Spieler trainieren. The coach lets the players train.

Typical Errors (Typische Fehler)

  • Confusing lassen with machen – machen means “to make/do”, while lassen conveys “to let/allow”.
  • Adding zu to the simple lassen + infinitive construction (e.g., Ich lasse zu gehen is wrong).
  • Placing lassen after the infinitive (Ich öffnen lasse das Fenster); the auxiliary must precede the infinitive.
  • Using lassen without a clear agent, leading to ambiguous sentences.

🎯 Example Sentences

  1. Ich lasse das Auto reparieren. — "I let the car be repaired."
  2. Lass uns das Meeting verschieben. — "Let's postpone the meeting."
  3. Er lässt das Buch zu Ende lesen. — "He lets the book be read to the end."
  4. Sie lässt sich das Haar färben. — "She lets her hair be dyed."
📌 *This topic is not linked to specific lessons yet.*

✍️ Interactive Exercises

✏️ Fill in the blank with the correct word: Write only one word in each field.

# Question Answer
1 Choose the correct form: "Ich ___ das Fenster schließen." (permission)
2 Complete the sentence: "Er lässt das Buch ___ lesen." (think of the particle that links the first verb to the infinitive)
3 Which construction is used here? "Sie lässt sich das Haar schneiden." (notice the role of the pronoun sich and who really receives the action)
4 Identify the construction: "Der Trainer lässt die Spieler trainieren." (watch who performs the action and the role of the noun after the verb)